John Henry Turf Championship Stakes

The John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (renamed for John Henry who won it three times) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the Oak Tree Racing Association's Autumn Meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

It is raced over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the turf and is one of the final prep races leading to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Once a Grade I event, it is now a Grade II and open to horses three years old and up. It currently offers a purse of $200,000.

Inaugurated as the Oak Tree Stakes in 1969, from 1971 through 1995 it was called the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes, and from 1996 through 1999, the Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes. From 2000 through 2011 it was called the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes. The race, now named for John Henry, remains at Santa Anita although the Oak Tree Autumn Meeting was held at Hollywood Park until its closure in December, 2013.

From 1969 through 1994 it was raced at a distance of miles.

In winning the 2008 edition, Red Giant set a world record time of 1:57.16 for miles on turf.

Records Time record: (at current miles distance) 1:57.16 – Red Giant (2008)

Most wins: 3 – John Henry (1980, 1981, 1982)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Dotsam Stable (1980, 1981, 1982)

Most wins by a jockey: 8 – Bill Shoemaker (1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)

Most wins by a trainer: 9 – Charles Whittingham (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1986)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Atitlan5Umberto RispoliRichard E. MandellaJohn M. B. O'Connor1:58.352025Gold Phoenix (IRE)7Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables LLC, & Marsha Naify1:58.742024Cabo Spirit5Abel CedilloGeorge PapaprodromouKretz Racing2:01.262023Balladeer4Victor EspinozaGeorge PapaprodromouCalvin Nguyen & Joey C. Tran1:58.942022Masteroffoxhounds5Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoRockingham Ranch1:59.792021United6Flavien PratRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth)1:58.412020United5Flavien PratRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth)1:59.172019Cleopatra's Strike6Abel CedilloPhilip D'AmatoSlam Dunk Racing & M. Nentwig1:58.222018Liam The Charmer5Tyler GaffalioneMichael W. McCarthyMadaket Stables LLC1:58.012017Itsinthepost5Tyler BazeJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn LLC1:58.282016Ashleyluvssugar5Gary StevensPeter EurtonAlesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing1:58.352015 Race not held2014Bright Thought5Tyler BazePhilip D'AmatoDye and Venneri Racing1:58.272013Indy Point5Gary StevensRichard MandellaGusMay-Fer 1:57:472012Slim Shadey4Garrett GomezSimon CallaghanPhil Cunningham1:59.172011Acclamation5Patrick ValenzuelaDon WarrenOld English Rancho1:59.452010‡Champ Pegasus4Joel RosarioRichard MandellaDiamond A Racing/Vargas2:01.212009Presious Passion6Elvis TrujilloMary HartmannPatricia Generazio1:59.132008Red Giant4John VelazquezTodd PletcherPeachtree Stable1:57.162007Artiste Royal6Joe TalamoNeil D. DrysdaleDavid & Jill Heerensperger1:59.892006 The Tin Man8Victor EspinozaRichard MandellaRalph & Aury Todd2:00.122005 Niners Son4Corey NakataniNeil D. DrysdaleTom Baxter2:01.172004 Star Over The Bay6Tyler BazeMichael R. MitchellG Racing & VanBurger et al.1:58.702003Storming Home5Gary StevensNeil D. DrysdaleSheikh Mohammed2:01.642002The Tin Man4Mike E. SmithRichard MandellaRalph & Aury Todd1:58.932001Senure5Alex SolisRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:59.472000 Mash One6David R. FloresRobert J. FrankelAmerman Racing / Palumbo2:00.671999 Mash One5David R. FloresRobert J. FrankelAmerman Racing / Palumbo1:59.071998 Military4Corey NakataniWallace DollaseThe Thoroughbred Corp.2:02.041997Rainbow Dancer6Alex SolisJenine SahadiEvergreen Farm2:01.941996†Admise4Kent DesormeauxWalter GreenmanBiszantz & Vandeweghe1:58.481995Northern Spur4 Chris McCarronRon McAnallyCharles J. Cella2:02.371994 Sandpit5Corey NakataniRichard MandellaSierra Thoroughbreds2:25.121993Kotashaan5Kent DesormeauxRichard MandellaLa Presle Farm2:25.061992Navarone4Pat ValenzuelaRodney RashRobert E. Hibbert2:24.291991Filago4Pat ValenzuelaRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann2:23.621990Rial5Rafael MezaA. Pico PerdomoEnrique Carlos Boelcke2:23.801989Hawkster3Russell BazeRon McAnallyM/M J. Shelton Meredith2:22.801988Nasr El Arab3Gary StevensAndré FabreSheikh Mohammed2:25.201987±Allez Milord4Chris McCarronJohn GosdenGallagher Farm2:36.201986Estrapade6Fernando ToroCharles WhittinghamAllen E. Paulson2:26.001985Yashgan4Chris McCarronJohn SullivanLiebau et al.2:27.201984Both Ends Burning4Russell BazeNeil D. DrysdaleBurdett-Coutts & Nelson2:25.401983Zalataia4Freddy HeadAndré FabreEdith de Gil2:29.201982John Henry7Bill ShoemakerRon McAnallyDotsam Stable 2:24.001981John Henry6Bill ShoemakerRon McAnallyDotsam Stable2:23.401980John Henry5Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable2:23.401979Balzac4Chris McCarronCharles WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck2:25.401978Exceller5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt2:24.601977Crystal Water4Bill ShoemakerRoger E. ClappConnie M. Ring2:26.401976King Pellinore4Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamCardiff Stock Farm2:31.401975Top Command4Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamM/M Quinn Martin & Murty Farm (Duane, Wayne, Robert Murty)2:26.001974Tallahto4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charles WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck2:25.801973Portentous3John RamirezEvan S. JacksonDaniel Schwartz2:25.601972Cougar II6Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley2:27.201971Cougar II5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamMary Jones Bradley 2:24.601970Daryl's Joy4Johnny SellersCharles WhittinghamR. K. C. Goh2:26.201969Czar Alexander4Ángel Cordero Jr.Angel Penna Sr.Gustave Ring 2:23.40

± In 1987 the winning time may have been affected because the race was started on the backstretch instead of from its normal hillside position.† In 1996, Bon Point finished first but was disqualified and set back to fifth place.‡ In 2010 run at Hollywood Park.

Notes

References The Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship at Pedigree Query